Police have arrested a woman for staging her own violent kidnapping in order to demand €50,000 (£43,000) from her mum.
Shocking footage obtained by authorities in Tenerife, Spain, shows the daughter blindfolded with fake blood across her mouth as she begs her mother for ransom money.
In the background, an individual whose identity is hidden by clothing is seen holding a blade to her neck as she says: "If you want to see me alive, you have to pay them."
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Following an investigation into the incident, the Spanish Civil Guard has arrested the daughter and four people connected to her boyfriend for the alleged extortion attempt.
The law enforcement agency added that this isn't the first time the mother has been targeted, having previously handed over €45,000 to the suspects after receiving letters threatening her daughter's life.
In a statement obtained by Newsflash on 5 September, the Civil Guard said: "The Guardia Civil, within the framework of Operation 'Santero', has arrested five people from the same family in Tenerife, for extorting money from a woman by simulating the kidnapping of her daughter, counting on the participation of the latter.
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"After receiving a video in which the young woman appeared bound and with a knife to her neck, the victim withdrew the amount of 50,000 euros from a bank to pay for her daughter's release.
"In the video, the daughter and perpetrator of the extortion appears with fake blood stains on her face, demanding payment in cash, which had to be delivered to a specific place determined by the alleged kidnappers."
The statement continued: "At the same time, investigators discovered that the victim had already been deceived on at least three previous occasions, in which she had handed over a total amount of 45,000 euros, after receiving three letters with threats against her daughter's life.
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"For various reasons, the investigators focused their investigations on the environment closest to the allegedly kidnapped young woman, determining the involvement of her sentimental partner's family in the events.
"Once the information was analysed, the kidnapping protocol was activated, with specialists from the Central Operations Unit.
"A special intervention module of the GRS-8 was also activated, which remained on alert in case its intervention was necessary for the hostage's release."
Once agents found the young woman to be safe and free, the investigative unit proceeded to arrest the five individuals for offences relating to the simulation of crime and extortion.
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"At the time of the arrest, the protagonist of the video and her partner's family were in a game room," the force added.
"The agents solved the case in less than 24 hours. In the home search, the Guardia Civil found tools used for the simulation of the kidnapping, a large cold weapon, the handkerchief with which the young woman was bound and a bottle of artificial blood."
UNILAD has contacted the Spanish Civil Guard for comment.
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Topics: Crime, World News, Money
Daisy Phillipson